Paint can attachment



Dec. 5, 1950 E. 0. DAY 2,532,895

PAINT CAN ATTACHMENT Filed April 16, 1947 FIl '5 l 4 7 INVENTOR fugene C. Dag

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES The present invention relates to paint can attachments and particularly to that type of attachment providing a brush wiping strip or element.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paint can attachment which may be easily attached to or removed from a conventional paint can to provide a wiping element upon which the paint brush may be wiped.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device which is adapted for temporary attachment to the can and which may be removed therefrom and used upon other cans.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a paint can showin my attachment,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional detail taken alon the line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1.

I have shown my paint can attachment in conjunction with a conventional paint can I which, as is well known, is provided with an inwardly extending lip II and an opening or mouth I2.

Generally when one is painting, the brush is inserted into the can through the opening I2, dipped into the paint, and then wiped against the lip II. All who have painted appreciate the resultin difficulties. I

My paint can attachment consists generally of a piece of heavy spring wire which is formed to provide a wiper strip 15, of suitable predetermined length. At each end of wiper strip I5 the wire is helically wound as shown to provide a pair of spring portions I6 and I! which extend generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the wiper'strip I5. While the number of coils in helical spring portions I6 and I1 may vary, I prefer that there be at least four or five such coils. Helical spring portion I6 terminates in a handle portion I8 and helical spring portion I1 terminates in a hook l9.

Handle I8 is adapted to extend radially of the .can where it may be readily grasped and where it will be free from any contact with the can, the paint, or the brush. Hook I9 on the other hand is adapted to overlie the lip portion II and engage can I0 generally as shown in Figure 2 eiainis. (01. zan -sol The method of attaching a device to the can may briefly be described as follows: Hook I9 is placed over the lip II so that its outer end engages the sides of the can I0 generally as shown in Figure 2. Helical spring portion I! is urged into position against the lip II in such a manner that lip II engages one of the grooves I'la presented by the outer portion of the helical tion I! generally to the dotted line position shown line position shown in Figure l by the spring effect of hook I9 engaging the outer edge of can In and helical spring portion I 6 engaging the lip II.

When the device is so placed in the can, one may insert the brush through the opening I! into the paint within the can Ill and then wipe the surplus paint from the brush upon the wiper strip I5.

The entire device may be removed from the can by merely urging the handle I8 in the direction shown by the arrow unti1 helical spring portion .I6 is disengaged from lip portion II whereupon wiper strip portion I5, spring portion I6 and handle I8 can be raised upwardly clear of the can and hook I9 disengaged therefrom.

The helical spring portions l6 and I! present a plurality of grooves I 612 and Na which are adapted to engage lip I I. By selecting the groove I611 or I'Ia which one places in engagement with the lip II one can predetermine or gauge the depth of the wiper strip I5 within the can opening I2.

I claim:

1. In a device adapted to be inserted in the mouth of a paint can having an inwardly extending lip, a wiper strip, means for attaching said wiper strip to said can including a pair of helical springs formed integrally with said wiper strip and adjacent the ends thereof and extendingat right angles to the longitudinal axis of said wiper strip, one of said spring portions terminating in a handle adapted to extend outwardly of said can when said device is inserted in the mouth of said can, the other of said spring portions terminating in a hook adapted to extend over said lip and engage the outer surface of said can when said device is positioned in said can with its adjacent spring portion engaging the lip of said can, said second spring serving to urge said first spring and said handle into engagement with the lip of said can and to retain the same in that position, said spring portions also presenting a plurality of grooves adapted to engage said lip whereby the depth of said wiper strip within said can opening may be predetermined.

2. In a'device adapted to be inserted in the mouth of a paint can provided with an inwardly extendingv lip, a wiper strip, a pair-of helical springs formed at the ends of said w iper strip and at right angles to its longitudinal axis, one

of said spring portions terminating in a hook adapted to extend over said lip and position said device by engaging the outer surface of the can,

said spring portion urging said second spring into 0 4 engagement with the lip of said can to retain the device in position.

3. A device as described in claim 2, said helical springs providing a plurality of grooves adapted to engage said lip whereby the depth of said wiper strip within said can opening may be predetermined.

EUGENE C. DAY.

REFERENCES CITED j The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number, v v Name Date 124,928 Bailey Mar. 26, 1872 2,342,454 r Coyl'iondro Feb. 32, 1944 2,353,555 Gore July 11, 1944 2,355,549 Myers Aug. 8, 1944 

